Ill
 

THE BURDEN OF THE HEAVY-LADEN
 

EVERYTHING which concerns my own peo¬
ple—the people who live in the slums or on
' the Bowery, the Highway of the Foolish
and Miserable—is my concern by birthright and
choice. There are other spheres of people, some of
them " worse off," some of them " better off," than
my own, but I am not familiar with them, and it
is not my custom to discuss or write of things about
which I am ignorant.

At the outset I must confess that I am strongly
biassed in the matter to which I am going to call
your attention. Some of my opinions, coloured by
my feelings, may shock you, but the facts I am go¬
ing to tell you must believe, because I have either
witnessed or experienced them. I will go further.
Read what I shall write, and then, if you can prove
that I have told a falsehood, I shall be ready, for
your sake, for my own, and for that of my fellows
of the slums, to make all possible reparation. But
do not come to me with " Oh, that can't be!" and
put your sentiment and inclination against the testi¬
mony of my eyes and ears.

39